'Chance Pe Dance' isn't autobiographical: Shahid Kapoor

Bollywood heartthrob Shahid Kapoor, who plays a struggling actor in the forthcoming film 'Chance Pe Dance', says despite some similarities, the movie bears no resemblance to his real life.

Bollywood heartthrob Shahid Kapoor, who plays a struggling actor in the forthcoming film 'Chance Pe Dance', says despite some similarities, the movie bears no resemblance to his real life. "There are some similarities in my personal life when compared to that of my character in the film. However, that only pertains to my younger days when I was struggling and trying to make it big in the industry. "Other than that, there isn't anything else about my personal life that would be seen in 'Chance Pe Dance'. It isn't an autobiography by any means," Shahid said.

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The 27-year-old actor, who reunites with director Ken Ghosh after his debut hit 'Ishq Vishq' in 2003 and 'Fida', trained for over a year to gain an eight-pack physique to fit into the role. Genelia D'Souza would be seen opposite Shahid for the first time in the movie, where the actor plays a struggling actor, trying to make ends meet. He comes in touch with Genelia who is a choreographer. Together they begin a journey which is filled with trials and tribulations that eventually leads to superstardom. "It's this journey where elements of my own life come into play. However, majority of incidents are such that would happen with every struggler. There are always these 4-5 factors which are common for everyone who is trying to grow in his profession, whether it is acting or anything else."

Shahid's character is shown to be driving an old car, struggling to pay rent, unable to find a decent meal, short of money to buy petrol but still trying to look good and be presentable enough to walk in for auditions. "And believe me, I have gone through this all. I remember the times when I used to drive a Maruti 800 car. I couldn't afford it but then it would have been very embarrassing to report for an audition or meet a producer by travelling in an auto rickshaw, so I had to somehow own and maintain it." The actor says that sometimes he would be short of petrol and did not even have Rs 100 to buy more fuel. "So, I used to hitch a ride with a friend. In fact I have been caught in a situation where I ate street food to save some money. "I am not trying to glamorise or romanticize the entire struggle part but something like this a part and parcel of the entertainment industry," said Shahid, who like his onscreen character in 'Chance Pe Dance' started his showbiz journey as a back-up dancer.

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But with success of films like 'Vivaah', 'Jab We Met' and 'Kaminey', Shahid seems to have traversed a long journey during last one decade since he started off as a cub dancer in Shiamak Davar's troupe. He is now counted amongst the top-10 actors in the industry today. "I am very proud of every day that I have spent in the position where I have managed to reach. It feels good when I look back at all the challenges that I faced while addressing an entire world out there. It has been a long and a really emotional journey indeed." 'Chance Pe Dance', which releases this January, will be Shahid's first film in 2010.